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into some semblance of decency first. Having left it to dry while I'd dressed, it now stuck out like a mane around my face as though I were more lion than panther.
    When I reached the table I held onto the edge for balance as I slipped my shoes on. Then I bent and grabbed my satchel.
    "You are not taking that old thing to a meeting of the High Council," Grams said in a voice of ice and iron.
    I rolled my eyes. "Of course not Grandmother. I'm just about to get my purse ."  
    Total lie.
    "Good save," Dad murmured from the sofa.
    "You're not helping," I snapped and returned to my room for a more acceptable carrier-of-useless-stuff.
    There was no time to fix my hair. The High Council wouldn't care anyway. I grabbed my purse and headed for the door.  

CHAPTER 8

    I DON ' T KNOW WHICH UNSETTLED me more--attending a High Council meeting, or actually setting foot in Justin Lake's home again. Memories of the last time I'd been in the place gave me the shivers. The word 'tense' didn't come close to describing it.  
    Tonight, however, Justin, the blond Cougar Alpha, who also happened to be both Iain's brother-in-law, and my teenage crush, was too busy herding people around, and met my gaze for only a few seconds as Grams and I entered the room. He didn't need more time though. His golden eyes bore into mine and conveyed a thesaurus of emotions. None of them meant 'happy'.
    I sucked in a breath and sent him a short smile, trying not to remember his kiss, or his marriage proposal. He acknowledged my greeting with a nod of his blond head, then hurried over to my father who was standing stony-faced beside my brother Iain. They were an impressive pair, all wide shoulders, and white blond hair. Justin murmured something in Dad's ear. A moment later both Dad and Justin had disappeared into the crowd while Iain took a seat at the back.  
    Tonight was certainly different from the last meeting. Instead of a small number of Alphas, today the room overflowed with spouses and the immediate families of Alphas from all over the North American continent.  
    As chivalry hadn't yet died for the walker male only the females occupied the available seating. Members of the High Council were the exception. They'd sit at the head table at the front of the room. Those called on council business would take seats at a smaller table at the side.  
    At the moment both tables were empty, but places against the walls were filling up as the non-councilmen arranged themselves for the best view of the proceedings.  
    Well, the non-councilmen and me.  
    Ignoring Grams' hesitation I put a hand to her shoulder and gently pressed her down into the last available chair. She patted my fingers before I let go.
    The air moved next to me and I looked up to find Mom standing there, her white pants-suit glowing pearlescent.
    "What are you doing here?" I whispered, shocked to see Mom attending a council meeting. To my knowledge she'd never been invited to one. She was human, of course.
    Mom shrugged. "I was summoned," she said, making light of the formal invitation.
    I wasn't fooled. For the High Council to summon a human was not a commonplace thing, so it didn't take long for me to scan the crowd and gauge the number of eyes flickering in our direction, a few expressions of surprise at Mom's presence.
    It was a harsh reality to be faced with the fact that my mom's species was widely known and accepted, by except for me. And more the fact that so many of them seemed accepting of her, and concerned with what her presence meant.
    A few chairs to Grams' right a heavyset blonde woman leaned forward. Mary Hevers, the wife of the lynx alpha of Montana. She waved her fat fingers at Mom and curved her lips in what she probably hoped would be construed as a supportive smile.  
    Her lips lied.
    Or maybe I was better at recognizing fake than most. Always being the one on the sidelines had taught me to watch for those little tells that gave away what people really thought--even when